Supported polymerisation catalysts

ABSTRACT

A supported polymerisation catalyst system comprises a porous support, a polymerisation catalyst and a cocatalyst wherein the support has been treated with an inert material such as polyisobutene. The support is preferably silica and is preferably treated with the inert material prior to contact with the other components. Preferably the polymerisation catalyst is a metallocene and the polymerisation catalyst system reduces the initial peak isotherm allowing for a smoother activity increase in particular for polymerisations carried out in the gas phase.

This application is the U.S. National Phase of International Application PCT/GB2004/003353, filed 4 Aug. 2004, which designated the U.S. PCT/GB2004/003353 claims priority to British Application No. 0319738.1 filed 22 Aug. 2003. The entire content of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to supported catalysts suitable for the polymerisation of olefins and in particular to supported metallocene catalysts providing advantages for operation in gas phase processes for the polymerisation of ethylene or the copolymerisation of ethylene and α-olefins having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.

In recent years there have been many advances in the production of polyolefin homopolymers and copolymers due to the introduction of metallocene catalysts. Metallocene catalysts offer the advantage of generally a higher activity than traditional Ziegler catalysts and are usually described as catalysts which are single site in nature. There have been developed several different families of metallocene complexes. In earlier years catalysts based on bis(cyclopentadienyl) metal complexes were developed, examples of which may be found in EP 129368 or EP 206794. More recently complexes having a single or mono cyclopentadienyl ring have been developed. Such complexes have been referred to as ‘constrained geometry’ complexes and examples of these complexes may be found in EP 416815 or EP 420436. In both of these complexes the metal atom eg. zirconium is in the highest oxidation state.

Other complexes however have been developed in which the metal atom may be in a reduced oxidation state. Examples of both the bis(cyclopentadienyl) and mono(cyclopentadienyl) complexes have been described in WO 96/04290 and WO 95/00526 respectively.

The above metallocene complexes are utilised for polymerisation in the presence of a cocatalyst or activator. Typically activators are aluminoxanes, in particular methyl aluminoxane or alternatively may be compounds based on boron compounds.

Examples of the latter are borates such as trialkyl-substituted ammonium tetraphenyl- or tetrafluorophenyl-borates or triarylboranes such as tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane. Catalyst systems incorporating borate activators are described in EP 561479, EP 418044 and EP 551277.

The above metallocene complexes may be used for the polymerisation of olefins in solution, slurry or gas phase. When used in the slurry or gas phase the metallocene complex and/or the activator are suitably supported. Typical supports include inorganic oxides eg. silica or polymeric supports may alternatively be used.

Examples of the preparation of supported metallocene catalysts for the polymerisation of olefins may be found in WO 94/26793, WO 95/07939, WO 96/00245, WO 96/04318, WO 97/02297 and EP 642536.

WO 98/27119 describes supported catalyst components comprising ionic compounds comprising a cation and an anion in which the anion contains at least one substituent comprising a moiety having an active hydrogen. In this disclosure supported metallocene catalysts are exemplified in which the catalyst is prepared by treating the aforementioned ionic compound with a trialkylaluminium compound followed by subsequent treatment with the support and the metallocene.

WO 98/27119 also describes a method for activating a substantially inactive catalyst precursor comprising (a) an ionic compound comprising a cation and an anion containing at least one substituent comprising a moiety having an active hydrogen, (b) a +transition metal compound and optionally, (c) a support by treatment with an organometallic compound thereby forming an active catalyst.

Various methods have been utilised to prepare supported catalysts of this type. For example WO 98/27119 describes several methods of preparing the supported catalysts disclosed therein in which the support is impregnated with the ionic compound. The volume of the ionic compound may correspond from 20 volume percent to greater than 200 volume percent of the total pore volume of the support. In a preferred preparative route the volume of the solution of the ionic compound does not exceed substantially, and is preferably equal to, the total pore volume of the support. Such methods of preparation may be referred to as incipient precipitation or incipient wetness techniques.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,904 describes the preparation of supported metallocene catalysts by contacting a metallocene complex with an alk-1-ene followed by reaction of this mixture with an ionic compound followed by addition to a support material.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,423 describes the reaction product of a transition metal compound with an unsaturated organic compound such as 1-hexene and wherein the reaction product is then contacted in a suitable solvent with a carrier material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,202 describes the contact between a single site catalyst precursor with an activating cocatalyst before, during or after contact of the single site precursor with a weakly coordinating electron donor that does not substantially polymerise during the contacting stage.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications 1998, 19. 505-509 describes the preparation of a number of silica supported metallocene catalysts. Exemplified systems described the addition of, a metallocene/1-hexene solution to a silica supported aluminoxane or the addition of a metallocene to silica supported aluminoxane followed by addition of 1-hexene.

More recently Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2001, 22, 1427-1431 described the preparation of supported metallocene catalysts by impregnating up to the pore volume of a silica support with a premixed 1-hexene solution of co- and pro-catalysts. Exemplified systems were silica supported bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/methyl aluminoxane for slurry polymerisation. Such systems however showed no long term storage stability and after a few days were inactive for polymerisations.

Our earlier application WO 04/020487 describes the addition of a polymerisable monomer to the support prior to contact with one or both of the polymerisation catalyst and the cocatalyst. This procedure results in an improved supported catalyst system which has improved activity and which is stable over extended periods of time.

WO 96/34020 describes supported catalyst systems prepared by combining a carrier, a metallocene, an activator with an inert hydrocarbon component having a molecular weight in the range 200 to 200,000. Examples of suitable inert hydrocarbon components are ethylene polymers and copolymers, styrene polymers or synthetic hydrocarbon waxes. The supported catalysts are preferably prepared by addition of the inert hydrocarbon component to a mixture of the support, metallocene and activator.

We have now found that inert materials may be suitably used to impregnate the pores of the support prior to contact with all the other catalyst components leading to advantages in activity and stability of the resultant supported catalyst systems.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided a supported polymerisation catalyst system comprising the combination of

-   (i) a porous support, -   (ii) a polymerisation catalyst, and -   (iii) a cocatalyst,     characterised in that an inert material is added to the porous     support.

Suitable inert materials include hydrocarbon liquids, oils, waxes and similar.

Suitable hydrocarbon liquids include C₅-C₈ alkanes for example pentane, isopentane, hexane, heptane or octane.

A preferred inert material for use in the present invention is polyisobutene (PIB).

The inert material may be added to the porous support at any time during the preparation of the supported polymerisation catalyst system.

The preferred method comprises addition of the inert material to the support prior to contact with the other catalyst components.

Thus according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a supported polymerisation catalyst system comprising the combination of

-   (i) a porous support, -   (ii) a polymerisation catalyst, and -   (iii) a cocatalyst     characterised in that the porous support is treated with an inert     material prior to the contact of the support with the other     components.

The inert material is added to the porous support at 0.01-2 times the pore volume of the support but is preferably less than or equal to the pore volume of the support.

Suitable porous support materials include inorganic metal oxides or alternatively polymeric supports may be used for example polyethylene, polypropylene, clays, zeolites, etc.

The most preferred support material for use with the supported catalysts according to the method of the present invention is silica. Suitable silicas include Ineos ES70 and Grace Davison 948 silicas.

The support material may be subjected to a heat treatment and/or chemical treatment to reduce the water content or the hydroxyl content of the support material. Typically chemical dehydration agents are reactive metal hydrides, aluminium alkyls and halides. Prior to its use the support material may be subjected to treatment at 100° C. to 100° C. and preferably at 200 to 850° C. in an inert atmosphere under reduced pressure.

The porous supports are preferably pretreated with, an organometallic compound preferably an organoaluminium compound and most preferably a trialkylaluminium compound in a dilute solvent.

The support material is pretreated with the organometallic compound at a temperature of −20° C. to 150° C. and preferably at 20° C. to 100° C.

According to another aspect of the present invention the inert material may also be used together with a polymerisable monomer.

Thus according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a supported polymerisation catalyst system comprising the combination of

-   (i) a porous support, -   (ii) a polymerisation catalyst, and -   (iii) a cocatalyst,     characterised in that an inert material and a polymerisable monomer     are added to the porous support.

With respect to this aspect of the present invention the ratio of inert material to polymerisable monomer is in the range 1:99 to 99:1.

Polymerisable monomers suitable for use in the method of the present invention include ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, styrene, butadiene, and polar monomers for example vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, etc. Preferred monomers are ethylene, propylene, 1-butene or 1-hexene.

Alternatively a combination of one or more monomers may be used for example ethylene/1-hexene.

The preferred polymerisable monomer for use in the present invention is 1-hexene.

The polymerisable monomer is suitably used in liquid form or alternatively may be used in a suitable solvent.

The polymerisation catalyst component according to the present invention may suitably be any polymerisation catalyst used in conjunction with a porous support in the present of a suitable cocatalyst.

The polymerisation catalyst may typically be a transition metal compound of Groups IIIA to IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements (IUPAC Version). Examples of such transition metal compounds are traditional Ziegler Natta, vanadium and Phillips-type catalysts well known in the art.

The traditional Ziegler Natta catalysts include transition metal compounds from Groups IVA-VIA, in particular catalysts based on titanium compounds of formula MRx where M is titanium and R is halogen or a hydrocarbyloxy group and x is the oxidation state of the metal. Such conventional type catalysts include TiCl₄, TiBr₄, Ti(OEt)₃Cl, Ti(OEt)₂Br₂ and similar. Traditional Ziegler Natta catalysts are described in more detail in “Ziegler-Natta Catalysts and Polymerisation” by J. Boor, Academic Press, New York, 1979.

Vanadium based catalysts include vanadyl halides eg. VCl₄, and alkoxy halides and alkoxides such as VOCl₃, VOCl₂(OBu), VCl₃(OBu) and similar.

Conventional chromium catalyst compounds referred to as Phillips type catalysts, include CrO₃, chromocene, silyl chromate and similar and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,532, U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,565.

Other conventional transition metal compounds are those based on magnesium/titanium electron donor complexes described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,565.

Other suitable transition metal compounds are those based on the late transition metals (LTM) of Group VIII for example compounds containing iron, nickel, manganese, ruthenium, cobalt or palladium metals. Examples of such compounds are described in WO 98/27124 and WO 99/12981 and may be illustrated by [2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(2,6-diisopropylanil)FeCl₂], 2.6-diacetylpyridinebis(2,4,6-trimethylanil) FeCl₂ and [2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(2,6-diisopropylanil)CoCl₂].

Other catalysts include derivatives of Group IIIA, IVA or Lanthanide metals which are in the +2, +3 or +4 formal oxidation state. Preferred compounds include metal complexes containing from 1 to 3 anionic or neutral ligand groups which may be cyclic or non-cyclic delocalized π-bonded anionic ligand groups. Examples of such π-bonded anionic ligand groups are conjugated or non-conjugated, cyclic or non-cyclic dienyl groups, allyl groups, boratabenzene groups, phosphole and arene groups. By the term π-bonded is meant that the ligand group is bonded to the metal by a sharing of electrons from a partially delocalised π-bond.

Each atom in the delocalized π-bonded group may independently be substituted with a radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, halohydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted metalloid radicals wherein the metalloid is selected from Group IVB of the Periodic Table. Included in the term “hydrocarbyl” are C1-C20 straight, branched and cyclic alkyl radicals, C6-C20 aromatic radicals, etc. In addition two or more such radicals may together form a fused ring system or they may form a metallocycle with the metal.

Examples of suitable anionic, delocalised π-bonded groups include cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, tetrahydrofluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, etc. as well as phospholes and boratabenzene groups.

Phospholes are anionic ligands that are phosphorus containing analogues to the cyclopentadienyl groups. They are known in the art and described in WO 98/50392.

The boratabenzenes are anionic ligands that are boron containing analogues to benzene. They are known in the art and are described in Organometallics, 14, 1, 471-480 (1995).

The preferred polymerisation catalyst of the present invention is a bulky ligand compound also referred to as a metallocene complex containing at least one of the aforementioned delocalized π-bonded group, in particular cyclopentadienyl ligands. Such metallocene complexes are those based on Group IVA metals for example titanium, zirconium and hafnium.

Metallocene complexes may be represented by the general formula: LxMQn where L is a cyclopentadienyl ligand, M is a Group IVA metal, Q is a leaving group and x and n are dependent upon the oxidation state of the metal.

Typically the Group IVA metal is titanium, zirconium or hafnium, x is either 1 or 2 and typical leaving groups include halogen or hydrocarbyl. The cyclopentadienyl ligands may be substituted for example by alkyl or alkenyl groups or may comprise a fused ring system such as indenyl or fluorenyl.

Examples of suitable metallocene complexes are disclosed in EP 129368 and EP 206794. Such complexes may be unbridged eg. bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, bis(pentamethyl)cyclopentadienyl dichloride, or may be bridged eg. ethylene bis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride or dimethylsilyl(indenyl)zirconium dichloride.

Other suitable bis(cyclopentadienyl)metallocene complexes are those bis(cyclopentadienyl)diene complexes described in WO 96/04290. Examples of such complexes are bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium (2.3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene) and ethylene bis(indenyl)zirconium 1,4-diphenyl butadiene.

Examples of monocyclopentadienyl or substituted monocyclopentadienyl complexes suitable for use in the present invention are described in EP 416815, EP 418044, EP 420436 and EP 551277. Suitable complexes may be represented by the general formula: CpMX_(n)

wherein Cp is a single cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl group optionally covalently bonded to M through a substituent, M is a Group VIA metal bound in a η⁵ bonding mode to the cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl group, X each occurrence is hydride or a moiety selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, amidoalkyl, siloxyalkyl etc. having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms and neutral Lewis base ligands having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms or optionally one X together with Cp forms a metallocycle with M and n is dependent upon the valency of the metal.

Particularly preferred monocyclopentadienyl complexes have the formula:

wherein:

-   -   R′ each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halo, cyano, and combinations         thereof, said R′ having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and         optionally, two R′ groups (where R′ is not hydrogen, halo or         cyano) together form a divalent derivative thereof connected to         adjacent positions of the cyclopentadienyl ring to form a fused         ring structure;     -   X is hydride or a moiety selected from the group consisting of         halo, alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, amidoalkyl,         siloxyalkyl etc. having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms and neutral         Lewis base ligands having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms,     -   Y is —O—, —S—, —NR*—, —PR*—,     -   M is hafnium, titanium or zirconium,     -   Z* is SiR*₂, CR*₂, SiR*₂SIR*₂, CR*₂CR*₂, CR*═CR*, CR*₂SIR*₂, or         GeR*₂, wherein:

R* each occurrence is independently hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said

R* having up to 10 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z* (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z* and an R* group from Y form a ring system,

and n is 1 or 2 depending on the valence of M.

Examples of suitable monocyclopentadienyl complexes are (tert-butylamido) dimethyl(tetramethyl-η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)silanetitanium dichloride and (2-methoxyphenylamido)dimethyl(tetramethyl-η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)silanetitanium dichloride.

Other suitable monocyclopentadienyl complexes are those comprising phosphinimine ligands described in WO 99/40125, WO 00/05237, WO 00/05238 and WO00/32653. A typical examples of such a complex is cyclopentadienyl titanium [tri(tertiary butyl)phosphinimine]dichloride.

Another type of polymerisation catalyst suitable for use in the present invention are monocyclopentadienyl complexes comprising heteroallyl moieties such as zirconium(cyclopentadienyl)tris(diethylcarbamates) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,752 and WO 99/61486.

Particularly preferred metallocene complexes for use in the preparation of the supported catalysts of the present invention may be represented by the general formula:

wherein:

-   -   R′ each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halo, cyano, and combinations         thereof, said R′ having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and         optionally, two R′ groups (where R′ is not hydrogen, halo or         cyano) together form a divalent derivative thereof connected to         adjacent positions of the cyclopentadienyl ring to form a fused         ring structure;     -   X is a neutral η⁴ bonded diene group having up to 30         non-hydrogen atoms, which forms a π-complex with M;     -   Y is —O—, —S—, —NR*—, —PR*—,     -   M is titanium or zirconium in the +2 formal oxidation state;     -   Z* is SiR*₂, CR*₂, SiR*₂SIR*₂, CR*₂CR*₂, CR*═CR*, CR*₂SIR*₂, or         GeR*₂, wherein:

R* each occurrence is independently hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said

R* having up to 10 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z* (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z* and an R* group from Y form a ring system.

Examples of suitable X groups include s-trans-η⁴-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene, s-trans-η⁴-1,3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene; s-trans-η⁴-2,4-hexadiene; s-trans-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene; s-trans-η⁴-1,4-ditolyl-1,3-butadiene; s-trans-η⁴-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadiene; s-cis-η⁴-3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene; s-cis-η⁴-1,4-dibenzyl-1,3-butadiene; s-cis-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene; s-cis-η⁴-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadiene, said s-cis diene group forming a π-complex as defined herein with the metal.

Most preferably R′ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, benzyl, or phenyl or 2 R′ groups (except hydrogen) are linked together, the entire C₅R′₄ group thereby being, for example, an indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, fluorenyl, terahydrofluorenyl, or octahydrofluorenyl group.

Highly preferred Y groups are nitrogen or phosphorus containing groups containing a group corresponding to the formula —N(R^(″))— or —P(R^(″))— wherein R^(″) is C₁₋₁₀ hydrocarbyl.

Most preferred complexes are amidosilane- or amidoalkanediyl complexes.

Most preferred complexes are those wherein M is titanium.

Specific complexes suitable for use in the preparation of the supported catalysts of the present invention are those disclosed in WO 95/00526 and are incorporated herein by reference.

A particularly preferred complex for use in the preparation of the supported catalysts of the present invention is (t-butylamido)(tetramethyl-η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)dimethyl silanetitanium-η⁴-1.3-pentadiene.

The loading (transition metal) in the supported catalysts of the present invention is typically in the range 0.1 μmol/g to 1 mmol/g.

Thus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided the preparation of a supported metallocene catalyst system said method comprising the combination of

-   (i) a porous support, -   (ii) a metallocene complex, and -   (iii) a cocatalyst,     -   characterised in that an inert material is added to the porous         support.

Suitable cocatalysts for use in the method of the present invention are those typically used with the aforementioned polymerisation catalysts.

These include aluminoxanes such as methyl aluminoxane (MAO), boranes such as tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and borates.

Aluminoxanes are well known in the art and preferably comprise oligomeric linear and/or cyclic alkyl aluminoxanes. Aluminoxanes may be prepared in a number of ways and preferably are prepare by contacting water and a trialkylaluminium compound, for example trimethylaluminum, in a suitable organic medium such as benzene or an aliphatic hydrocarbon.

A preferred aluminoxane is methyl aluminoxane (MAO).

Other suitable cocatalysts are organoboron compounds in particular triarylboron compounds. A particularly preferred triarylboron compound is tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane.

Other compounds suitable as cocatalysts are compounds which comprise a cation and an anion. The cation is typically a Bronsted acid capable of donating a proton and the anion is typically a compatible non-coordinating bulky species capable of stabilizing the cation.

Such cocatalysts may be represented by the formula: (L*−H)⁺ _(d)(A^(d−))

wherein

L* is a neutral Lewis base

(L*−H)⁺ _(d) is a Bronsted acid

A^(d−) is a non-coordinating compatible anion having a charge of d⁻, and

d is an integer from 1 to 3.

The cation of the ionic compound may be selected from the group consisting of acidic cations, carbonium cations, silylium cations, oxonium cations, organometallic cations and cationic oxidizing agents.

Suitably preferred cations include trihydrocarbyl substituted ammonium cations eg. triethylammonium, tripropylammonium, tri(n-butyl)ammonium and similar. Also suitable are N.N-dialkylanilinium cations such as N,N-dimethylanilinium cations.

The preferred ionic compounds used as cocatalysts are those wherein the cation of the ionic compound comprises a hydrocarbyl substituted ammonium salt and the anion comprises an aryl substituted borate.

Typical borates suitable as ionic compounds include:

-   -   triethylammonium tetraphenylborate     -   triethylammonium tetraphenylborate,     -   tripropylammonium tetraphenylborate,     -   tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate,     -   tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate,     -   N,N-dimethylanilinium tetraphenylborate,     -   N,N-diethylanilinium tetraphenylborate,     -   trimethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,     -   triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,     -   tripropylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,     -   tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,     -   N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,     -   N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

A preferred type of cocatalyst suitable for use with the metallocene complexes of the present invention comprise ionic compounds comprising a cation and an anion wherein the anion has at least one substituent comprising a moiety having an active hydrogen.

Suitable cocatalysts of this type are described in WO 98/27119 the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of this type of anion include:

-   -   triphenyl(hydroxyphenyl)borate     -   tri(p-tolyl)(hydroxyphenyl)borate     -   tris(pentafluorophenyl)(hydroxyphenyl)borate     -   tris(pentafluorophenyl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)borate

Examples of suitable cations for this type of cocatalyst include triethylammonium, triisopropylammonium, diethylmethylammonium, dibutylethylammonium and similar.

Particularly suitable are those cations having longer alkyl chains such as dihexyldecylmethylammonium, dioctadecylmethylammonium, ditetradecylmethylammonium, bis(hydrogentated tallow alkyl)methylammonium and similar.

Particular preferred cocatalysts of this type are alkylammonium tris(pentafluorophenyl) 4-(hydroxyphenyl)borates. A particularly preferred cocatalyst is bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl ammonium tris(pentafluorophenyl) (4-hydroxyphenyl)borate.

With respect to this type of cocatalyst, a preferred compound is the reaction product of an alkylammonium tris(pentafluorophenyl)-4-(hydroxyphenyl)borate and an organometallic compound, for example triethylaluminium.

The preferred metal with respect to the organometallic compound is aluminium and the preferred metal for the ionic activator is boron whereby the molar ratio of Al/B is less than 2 and is preferably less than 1 and most preferably in the range 0.3 to 0.8.

In a preferred method according to the present invention the molar ratio of metallocene complex to cocatalyst employed in the method of the present invention may be in the range 1:10000 to 100:1. A preferred range is from 1:5000 to 10:1 and most preferred from 1:10 to 10:1.

It is advantageous in this method of the present invention that the ionic compound is dried before contact with the organometallic compound. This enables lower ratios of organometallic compound to the ionic compound to be used without any detrimental effects on activity.

The supported catalyst systems of the present invention are most suitable for operation in processes which typically employ supported polymerisation catalysts.

The supported catalysts of the present invention may be suitable for the polymerisation of olefin monomers selected from (a) ethylene, (b) propylene (c) mixtures of ethylene and propylene and (d) mixtures of (a), (b) or (c) with one or more other alpha-olefins.

Thus according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the polymerisation of olefin monomers selected from (a) ethylene, (b) propylene (c) mixtures of ethylene and propylene and (d) mixtures of (a), (b) or (c) with one or more other alpha-olefins, said process performed in the presence of a supported polymerisation catalyst system as hereinbefore described.

The supported systems of the present invention are however most suitable for use in slurry or gas phase processes.

A slurry process typically uses an inert hydrocarbon diluent and temperatures from about 0° C. up to a temperature just below the temperature at which the resulting polymer becomes substantially soluble in the inert polymerisation medium. Suitable diluents include toluene or alkanes such as hexane, propane or isobutane. Preferred temperatures are from about 30° C. up to about 200° C. but preferably from about 60° C. to 100° C. Loop reactors are widely used in slurry polymerisation processes.

Gas phase processes for the polymerisation of olefins, especially for the homopolymerisation and the copolymerisation of ethylene and α-olefins for example 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene are well known in the art.

Typical operating conditions for the gas phase are from 20° C. to 100° C. and most preferably from 40° C. to 85° C. with pressures from subatmospheric to 100 bar.

Particularly preferred gas phase processes are those operating in a fluidised bed. Examples of such processes are described in EP 89691 and EP 699213 the latter being a particularly preferred process for use with the supported catalysts of the present invention.

Particularly preferred polymerisation processes are those comprising the polymerisation of ethylene or the copolymerisation of ethylene and α-olefins having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.

Thus according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the polymerisation of ethylene or the copolymerisation of ethylene and α-olefins having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said process performed under polymerisation conditions in the present of a supported catalyst system prepared as hereinbefore described.

The preferred α-olefins are 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene and 1-octene.

The supported catalysts prepared according to the present invention may also be suitable for the preparation of other polymers for example polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.

By use of the method of the present invention a free flowing powder is produced which typically may have a similar particle size to the starting porous support material. The resultant supported catalysts are stable at room temperature over extended periods of time and exhibit a less deactivating kinetic profile than similar catalysts prepared without the incorporation of the inert material.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the accompanying examples.

Abbreviations

TEA triethylaluminium Ionic Compound A [N(H)Me(C₁₈₋₂₂H₃₇₋₄₅)₂][B(C₆F₅)₃(p-OHC₆H₄)] Complex A (C₅Me₄SiMe₂N^(t)Bu)Ti(η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)

EXAMPLE 1 Comparative

To 5.64 ml (0.478 mmol) of a toluene solution of Ionic Compound A (11.1% wt) was added 1.15 ml (0.2875 mmol) of a toluene solution of TEA ([Al]=0.25 mol/l). This solution was then added to 9.0 g of TEA treated silica (Grace 948, [Al]=1.36 mmol/g) and the mixture was well agitated until no lumps were visible and was allowed to stand for 30 min. 2.55 ml (0.456 mmol) of a heptane solution of Complex A (9.17% wt) was then impregnated (molar ratio B/Ti=1.05). The mixture was well agitated until no lumps were visible, allowed to stand for 30 min and finally dried under vacuum.

EXAMPLE 2

16.9 g of polyisobutene (PIB) (INDOPOL H300 from BP Chemicals, Mn=1245, Mw=2222) was placed in a flask under an inert atmosphere. 19.8 g of dried hexane was added and the sample agitated until complete solubilisation. 2 g of TEA treated silica (Ineos ES70, [Al]=1.1 mmol/g) was then added (to eliminate any possible trace of moisture) and the sample well agitated.

To 3 grams of the catalyst prepared in Example 1 was added 1.07 g of the above prepared PIB solution. The mixture was well agitated, allowed to stand for 1 hour and finally dried under vacuum.

-   [Al]=1.10 mmol/g -   [Ti]=45.6 μmol/g

EXAMPLE 3

Polymerisation Runs

The catalysts prepared in Examples 1 and 2 were tested for the copolymerisation of ethylene and 1-hexene using the following procedure:

A 2.5 1 double jacketed thermostatic stainless steel autoclave was purged with nitrogen at 70° C. for at least one hour. 236 g of PE pellets previously dried under vacuum at 80° C. for 12 hours were introduced and the reactor was then purged three times with nitrogen (7 bar to atmospheric pressure). ˜0.13 g of TEA treated silica (1.5 mmol TEA/g) was added under pressure and allowed to scavenge impurities for at least 15 minutes under agitation. The gas phase was then composed (addition of ethylene, 1-hexene and hydrogen) and a mixture of supported catalyst (˜0.1 g) and silica/TEA (˜0.1 g) was injected. A constant pressure of ethylene and a constant pressure ratio of ethylene/co-monomer were maintained during the run. The run was terminated by venting the reactor and then purging the reactor 3 times with nitrogen. The PE powder produced during the run was then separated from the PE seed bed by simple sieving. Typical conditions are as follows:

-   PC2: 6.5b -   C6/C2 (% vol)=0.55 -   H2=60 ml -   T°=70° C. -   catalyst added: 0.100 g -   run length: 1h

Polymerisation time to reach Exotherm Average Peak Activity peak activity ° C./g activity Catalyst g/ghb min catalyst g/ghb Example 1 160 2 70 74 (comparative example) Example 2 110 6 45 68 Addition of an inert filler (such as PIB) into the catalyst-pores allows the reduction of the initial peak activity and the overall exotherm. The initial activity increase is smoother than that observed with unmodified formulations without any appreciable loss of the average activity level. 

1. A supported polymerisation catalyst system comprising the combination of (i) a porous support, (ii) a polymerisation catalyst, and (iii) a cocatalyst, the porous support is treated with an inert material prior to contact of the porous support with the other catalyst components and in an amount of less than or equal to the pore volume of the porous support.
 2. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 1 wherein the inert material is chosen from hydrocarbon liquids, oils or waxes.
 3. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 2 wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is a C₅-C₈ alkane.
 4. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 1 wherein the inert material is polyisobutene.
 5. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 1 wherein the porous support is silica.
 6. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 1 wherein the polymerisation catalyst is a transition metal compound.
 7. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 6 wherein the transition metal compound is a metallocene.
 8. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 7 wherein the metallocene has the formula

wherein: R′ each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halo, cyano, and combinations thereof, said R′ having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R′ groups (where R′ is not hydrogen, halo or cyano) together form a divalent derivative thereof connected to adjacent positions of the cyclopentadienyl ring to form a fused ring structure; X is hydride or a moiety selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, amidoalkyl, siloxyalkyl etc. having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms and neutral Lewis base ligands having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, Y is —O—, —S—, —NR*—, or —PR*—, M is hafnium, titanium or zirconium, Z* is SIR*₂, CR*₂, SiR*₂SIR*₂, CR*₂CR*₂, CR*=CR*, CR*₂SIR*₂, or GeR*₂, wherein: R* each occurrence is independently hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said R* having up to 10 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z* (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z* and an R* group from Y form a ring system, and n is 1 or 2 depending on the valence of M.
 9. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 7 wherein the metallocene has the formula

wherein: R′ each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halo, cyano, and combinations thereof, said R′ having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R′ groups (where R′ is not hydrogen, halo or cyano) together form a divalent derivative thereof connected to adjacent positions of the cyclopentadienyl ring to form a fused ring structure; X is a neutral η⁴ bonded diene group having up to 30 non-hydrogen atoms, which forms a π-complex with M; Y is —O—, —S—, —NR*—, or —PR*—, M is titanium or zirconium in the +2 formal oxidation state; Z* is SiR*₂, CR*₂, SiR*₂SIR*₂, CR*₂CR*₂, CR*═CR*, CR*₂SIR*₂, or GeR*₂, wherein: R* each occurrence is independently hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said R* having up to 10 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z* (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z* and an R* group from Y form a ring system.
 10. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 1 wherein the cocatalyst has the formula (L*−H)⁼ _(d)(A^(d−)) wherein L* is a neutral Lewis base (L*−H)⁺ _(d) is a Bronsted acid A^(d−) is a non-coordinating compatible anion having a charge of d⁻, and d is an integer from 1 to
 3. 11. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 10 wherein the cocatalyst comprises a cation and an anion wherein the anion has at least one substituent comprising a moiety having an active hydrogen.
 12. A supported polymerisation catalyst system comprising the combination of (i) a porous support, (ii) a polymerisation catalyst, and (iii) a cocatalyst, wherein an inert material and a polymerisable monomer are added to the porous support.
 13. A supported polymerisation catalyst system according to claim 12 wherein the polymerisable monomer is 1-hexene.
 14. A process for the polymerisation of olefin monomers selected from (a) ethylene, (b) propylene (c) mixtures of ethylene and propylene and (d) mixtures of (a), (b) or (c) with one or more other alpha-olefins, said process performed in the presence of a supported polymerisation catalyst system as claimed in claim
 1. 15. A process for the polymerisation of ethylene or the copolymerisation of ethylene and α-olefins having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said process performed under polymerisation conditions in the present of a polymerisation catalyst system as claimed in claim
 1. 16. A process according to claim 15 wherein the α-olefin is 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene or 1-octene.
 17. A process according to claim 14 performed in the gas phase.
 18. A process according to claim 17 performed in a fluidised bed gas phase reactor. 